CSAV & Computer Science
CSAV is partnering with the UHH Computer Science Department to develop an innovative, user-friendly computer program to help homeowners (and contractors) select an appropriate earthquake-resistant retrofit design for post- and-pier type homes in Hawaii.
After the damaging Kiholo Bay earthquakes that occurred in October 2006, the University of Hawaii’s Engineering School partnered with a private structural engineering company to analyze the damage that occurred to post-and-pier homes on the Big Island. After meeting with homeowners whose homes had been damaged, the engineers conducted a detailed analysis of how the earthquake shaking had damaged the homes, and then designed several approaches to strengthening this type of structure to better resist the effects of an earthquake. However, to determine which of the designs was appropriate for a specific dwelling, in a particular location, several details of the home construction, and location, had to be analyzed. Although none of the measurements or decisions required was terribly complicated, the process had to follow a specific pathway that might intimidate someone not familiar with the details of home construction.
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To help guide a homeowner through the process, we recruited two UHH Computer Science students, Kohei Miyagi and Matt Greenway, under the guidance of Dr. Keith Edwards, the CS Department Chair, to develop an “Expert System.” This program asks the homeowner a series of simple questions, and asks for a few measurements at key points around and under the house, and then selects one or more retrofit designs that would be appropriate for installation on the house. At each step, the homeowner is shown photographs, drawings, or short computer animations to help him or her understand exactly what is needed. The program even provides a digital screen tool that allows the owner to determine the heights of the posts under the house from a digital photograph rather than having to crawl under the house to make the measurements directly.
Once the necessary data is entered into the program, it selects the appropriate designs and presents them to the homeowner. S/he can then select one of the designs and the computer will print out detailed drawings of how to install the retrofits, and provide a materials list that specifies the number of sheets of plywood, studs, metal fittings, and other supplies required to complete the job. Even if the homeowner decides that the job may be more than s/he is comfortable tackling alone, they have the drawings and specifications that they can use to get a quotation from a contractor, and can use the drawings to make sure that the contractor is installing the retrofits properly. Of course, contractors can also use the program to determine the appropriate retrofit programs in bidding a job as well.
CSAV has been working on projects with the UHH Computer Science Department for several years. In a capstone course run by Dr. Keith Edwards, CSAV acts as a client requesting a product. The students work together in teams to produce a protoype and later a finished version; CSAV staff sit in on progress-report presentations and share ideas for improvements. One example is an interactive software package that plots trajectories of lava flows on the Big Island. Another example is a Tablet PC that can be used in the field to photograph geologic formations; a stylus allows the user to take notes over photos or maps; data on strike and dip can be entered while GPS records location.
Don Thomas chats with CS students.
Watch a video of Computer Science and Geology students working with Steve Lundblad in the field, as CS students test the Tablet PC. Download free Quicktime to view the video.